March 18, 2020October 17, 2025

Volunteer Spotlight — Jim Heindl

Jim Heindl, EAA 570224, has been volunteering with EAA since 1993, primarily with flightline operations. For his volunteer service through the years, Jim was named a Brown Arch Brick Award ... Read more

March 12, 2020November 5, 2025

Hand Prop Mishap: I Was Careful But it Still Happened to Me

Member Stories, Tips

I took every precaution and knew that what I was doing was sensible and safe. Boy, was I fooling myself.

February 26, 2020October 17, 2025

Volunteer Spotlight — Geoff Downey

Member Stories, Volunteers

Geoff Downey, EAA 105011, has been volunteering at AirVenture for nearly 30 years, with the vast majority of it as the rotorcraft chairman.

February 26, 2020October 17, 2025

One Airplane, Two Lifelong Friends

Member Stories, Vintage

Myron Lokken, EAA 532919, and his longtime friend Doug Tomas, EAA 84351, bought this Aeronca Champ, originally owned by Myron’s father, Bill.

January 30, 2020October 20, 2025

The Initial Spark

Learn to Fly, Member Stories

My wife and I recently had the thrill of seeing our son solo both a helicopter and a Cessna — as well as pass his glider private pilot checkride — ... Read more

January 15, 2020October 17, 2025

Volunteer Spotlight — Mert Taylor

Member Stories, Volunteers

Mert Taylor, EAA 156, has been around EAA since nearly the beginning. Years later, he’s still finding ways to volunteer with the organization.

January 9, 2020January 9, 2020

99 Miles on Batteries

Member Stories, Ultralights

At some point, apparently, I committed to flying my E-Gull electric ultralight from home base (KWVI) to my friend Bob’s home at Pine Mountain Lake (E45), nearly 100 miles away. ... Read more

December 18, 2019October 17, 2025

No More Limits

Member Stories, Milestones, Youth Outreach

After hours of instruction, memorizing procedures and movements of the airplane, my instructor had prepared me for one of the biggest steps I would ever dream of taking as a ... Read more

December 11, 2019November 6, 2025

More Than One Mission

Member Stories, Why We Fly

Eric Sampson’s recent Eagle Flight had an ulterior motive.

November 27, 2019November 7, 2025

EAA Members Honored in Kansas

Member Stories

Five EAAers among the 25 people inducted into the International Forest of Friendship.

November 20, 2019November 5, 2025

Building an Airport Tetrahedron

Member Stories

A different sort of homebuilt project.

November 13, 2019October 17, 2025

The Baker T-Craft(s) — ‘T’ is for Tom(s)

Member Stories, Vintage

The tradition of naming sons after their fathers often causes confusion. In addition, it makes it difficult to tell the story of a given Taylorcraft when both Tom Jr. and ... Read more

November 13, 2019November 5, 2025

Sonerai Gets a New Skin

Homebuilding, Member Stories

I went for a speed flight a few weeks ago, just to see what sort of top speed I might get at full throttle.

November 5, 2019November 6, 2025

Full Circle — A Happy Reunion, 35 Years On

Member Stories, Vintage

How often is it at age 17 that you get your first ride in a historic 1942 Meyers OTW airplane? Then you end up owning that same airplane 35 years ... Read more

October 10, 2019November 6, 2025

Don’t Wait

Member Stories, Why We Fly

“I really enjoyed this trip,” I told my wife, Lois, as we flew the last leg home. Little did I know I’d never pilot my airplane again.

October 2, 2019November 4, 2025

The Wright Glider Stuff

Honoring The Past, Member Stories

The would-be pilot stood atop the sand dune hill at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, wondering if the craft he was about to fly would work as promised. The wind picked ... Read more

September 26, 2019November 5, 2025

Soul Sisters — Jill Manka and her Champ called Lucy

Member Stories, Vintage

The Champ was far from a flyer, and even though the skeletal remains were covered in a fine coating of dust, Jill Manka saw the potential beauty of what could ... Read more

September 18, 2019November 5, 2025

Better-Than-New Skywagon — Texas Cessna 180

From The Hangar Floor, Member Stories, Vintage

I purchased N9177C, my 1955 Cessna 180, in November 2012 in San Diego, California. It was a mostly original aircraft with logbooks showing about 5,700 hours’ total time. My father ... Read more

August 22, 2019October 28, 2025

Heather Penney Discusses 9/11 Experience, Beliefs in TEDx Talk

Member Stories, Why We Fly

EAA board member Heather Penney, EAA 1266991, told her story of being scrambled on September 11, 2001, to protect Washington, D.C., and more in this TEDx talk given in Chelsea ... Read more

August 15, 2019October 28, 2025

(Where the Fun Is) Creampuff: Debbie Cheney’s Cessna 140

Member Stories, Vintage

Well, you’re finally there. After wanting to fly all your life, and having to delay your dream for your career and family, you finally found yourself with enough time and ... Read more